Skip to content
Digissential

Diagnostic (In-Shop)

Serving Stellenbosch & surrounds • Transparent pricing • POPIA-aligned

diagnostic-in-shop — Digissential

What’s included

  • Visual intake and symptom review
  • Power-on/POST checks with SMART & short RAM tests
  • Quick Windows health notes (no jargon)
  • Written estimate before any repair
  • May be credited if a repair goes ahead (discretionary)

Details

TL;DR: We test your PC on the bench, tell you what’s wrong, and give a clear written plan with price.
Local: Helpful for SU students, homes in Welgevonden/Die Boord, and Technopark teams who need answers today.

Symptoms we check

  • Blue screens, boot loops, or “no bootable device”
  • Random restarts or freezes
  • Very slow start-up or apps that hang
  • No display, beeps on start, or fans maxing out
  • “Disk SMART” warnings, clicking drives, or hot cases
  • Updates stuck or Windows won’t load after an update

How we do it (at a glance)

  1. Intake & notes: what changed, when it started, and any noises/smells
  2. Power & POST: basic power tests, quick visual inside (if needed)
  3. Storage & memory: SMART read and short RAM test
  4. Windows health: quick event and start-up review (plain words)
  5. Findings & options: simple write-up with price (repair / upgrade / data-first)

If a long RAM test, full surface scan, or thermal soak is needed, we’ll suggest Hardware Diagnostics (Extended) and explain why.

Tip: Intermittent restarts or heat issues often need longer, load-based testing. See Hardware Diagnostics (Extended).

Time & cost in Stellenbosch

  • Diagnostic fee: R150
  • Turnaround: Often same day, based on queue and updates
  • Credit: We may credit the fee if you approve a repair right away

Do-nots (to save data and parts)

  • Don’t keep powering a clicking drive
  • Don’t force shutdowns during “Working on updates” unless we tell you to
  • Don’t run three “driver updater” tools — they cause weird faults
  • Don’t keep using a laptop with a swollen battery or a burnt smell

When to stop DIY & call us

  • Beeps on start, no display, or sudden power-offs
  • Repeated blue screens after login
  • Liquid spill or coffee in the keyboard
  • Windows asks to format a drive that has important files

Real stories around town

  • SU first-year (Huis Marais): Laptop froze during an upload. Bad RAM stick. We swapped it and he submitted the same afternoon.
  • Die Boord home PC: Slow and loud. Dust-clogged cooler and a dying HDD. We cleaned it, moved to SSD, and it booted fast again.
  • Technopark front desk: POS stuck on updates at 7:30 am. We rolled back, set a calmer update window, and doors opened on time.

What to bring

  • The device and charger/power lead
  • Passwords we might need (Windows login, BitLocker key if shown)
  • A short note on when it started and what changed (new app, drop, spill)

After the diagnosis

You get a clear written estimate with options. You choose: repair, upgrade, or data-first. No pressure, no hidden costs. If you go ahead, the diagnostic fee may be credited at our discretion.

POPIA-aware handling • CPA-aligned warranties • Lawful e-waste routing on request (with data-wipe certificate)